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Rutherfords Gold Foil Experiment

What?

Rutherfords Gold Foil Expermient resulted in a very important discovery. Positively charged Helium Alpa Particles were fired into a thin sheet of foil through a beam. At this time, the atom was thought to be electrons (negatively charged), and smeared out positively charged particles; thus making the atom neutral (otherwise known as the Plum Pudding Model). If the model was right, all of the alpha particles would go straight through the foil. To their surprise, some of the alpha particles bouned off the foil. After further investigation, they realized that the postively charged particles in an atom were all bunched up the center of the atom, inthe nucleus. The Nucleus and protons were very compact, and had a larger mass then the Helium Alpha Particles, this is why some of the particles refelcted off the nucleus.The electrons were scattered thorughout the rest of the atom, and had a smaller mass then the alpha perticles, which is why most of the particles went straight through the foil. In 1911, Rutherford came out with a new atomic model, whic showed this new idea.

Who, When and Where?

The experiment was actually conduted by Hans Geiger and Earnest Marsden. Rutherford did not do any of the experiment, howerver he supervised and suggested the experiment. The experiment was also done at Rutherford's Lab at the University of Manchester. in 1911.

Why?

Rutherford decided to do this experiment to test out the current atomic medel. This experiment was very important in the discovery of the atom. Before this experiment, the model of an atom was wrong, and shortly after this experiment, Rutherford came out with a new and correct model. This experiment created a strong base for new atomic discoveries to come.